Los Angeles Dodgers, after two incredible seasons, are still looking to strengthen with the best talent available in free agency or from other MLB teams. The Yankees, for their part, managed to bring back Cody Bellinger and both they and the two-time champions had their sights set on Freddy Peralta as their next star signing for the 2026 season.
However, the New York Mets were much quicker and managed to sign the Dominican thanks to a transfer deal for two talents from the Big Apple team.
Yankees and Dodgers lose out on Freddy Peralta
Freddy Peralta, 29, is coming off the best campaign of his MLB career. He was the National League wins leader, participated in his first All-Star Game and posted a 2.70 ERA in 33 starts. He also accumulated 204 strikeouts, ranking among the top nine in Major League Baseball. His consistency and durability make him an ideal candidate for any team.
With the return of Cody Bellinger to the Yankees, they were not ruling out a possible trade to acquire the Milwaukee Brewers player. In the rumors prior to the signing with the Mets, the Yankees were reportedly heavily linked with Peralta, even after they acquired Weathers from the Marlins.
Although the Dominican was reportedly very close to signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who had bolstered their roster for the 2026 season with Kyle Tucker thanks to a $240 million, four-year contract, Peralta and the Brewers did not reach an agreement according to rumors.
Freddy Peralta signs for the New York Mets thanks to a trade
The Brewers have been successful in trading players in the final year of their contracts (the same case currently with Peralta). They have done so with Corbin Burnes and Devin Williams, and on each occasion they have remained at the top of the National League Central Division. So the trade of Peralta to the Mets seeks to follow that path.
The New York Mets’ winter search for a starting pitcher ended on Wednesday, January 21, as they renewed their roster after failing to reach the postseason in 2025, with what was the second most expensive payroll in Major League Baseball. The Mets acquired two-time All-Star Freddy Peralta and 27-year-old right-handed pitcher Tobias Myers from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for prospects Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams
Read the full article here
